Feedback on Clark 52 barrel and new bushing

Anyone have this set up in their 52? How does this shoot? With no KKM emplacement I the near future, this may be the only replacement option for shot out or bulged barrels short of buying another 52. For the price of used 52s, I wonder if this is a cost-effective option?? Any comments are most appreciated, the universe of 38 special Be shooters is sadly an Increasingly smaller group.

I actually ordered a Clark barrel and bushing as well as a new slide stop.  The fitting looks straight forward.
The Clark bushing is melonited so you need to fit the barrel to the bushing.   I made a fixture using angle aluminum to hand stone the barrel and keep it round.  It needs to be an exactly perfect fit.   Also at the moment of lock up the barrel lug rides up on top of the slide stop.   The barrel has to be absolutely rock solid with zero movement.    I haven't started fitting the barrel to the slide yet but it looks like it will be similar to fitting a 1911 barrel.  I'll adjust the lug engagement until the firing pin is centered.   My 52 is shooting fine but long term i want to have a fitted barrel, bushing and slide stop as a spare set.  This is a spare time project so might be a while before I have the new set ready to shoot.

Where do you get these barrels and bushings?

Thanks, Bob

Clark Custom
https://clarkcustomguns.com/product-category/sw52parts/

Slide stop i got off ebay.   I also ordered a model 39 slide stop to see if it is the same.

Greetings,

The Model 39 and Model 52 slide stop are NOT the same.

The Model 52 is larger in diameter.

Cheers,

Dave

Thanks Dave.  Guess I'll have random spare part.   That would actually make since if the 52 slide stop is fitted so the barrel lug mates to it.

When fitting the bushing you should hone the bushing to the point that it will hold the barrel when both parts are dry.  But when oiled the barrel slides out of the bushing when you try lift it with the bushing on the barrel.

There is another 52-2 slide stop on eBay right now.

I have the Clark barrel in my 52, but not the bushing.  It will give a bit better accuracy than the factory barrel and bullet holes show no sign of tipping or keyholing.  My gunsmith fitted it so I can still use the factory barrel if I want.  However, he was not impressed with the quality of the Clark barrel.  It was difficult to fit and he needed to turn down the barrel next to the top locking lug using an off center method. This provided the necessary engagement surface for the top lug into the slide.  My barrel slugged .35575".

Does Clark offer a service of supplying and fitting a barrel and bushing to your gun for a fee?

They do offer to fit the barrel and bushing.   I decided to do it myself because I like doing this kind of thing and I will fit everything with no change to anything that will affect the original barrel fitting.  The Clark bushing is melonited (nitrided) so it is incredibly hard.   The only choice is to adjust the barrel bulge diameter to fit the bushing.

Speaking of eBay. There is a rare Herrett National set of grips for a 52 on there right now. RH decent start price. NFI

I forgot to add that the Clark barrel headspaces on the case mouth, not the rim.

oldsalt444 wrote:I forgot to add that the Clark barrel headspaces on the case mouth, not the rim.

Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!
Pre-headspaced nightmare!
Jon

It is interesting that both barrels have the bottom of the case flush with the end of the barrel hood.  But the original barrel has a little ledge under the barrel hood the case rim seats against and on the Clark barrel it almost seats against a similar ledge but not quite.   When I next disassemble it to clean it I will check the fit of the Clark barrel.  I just about have the bushing fit where I want it.

Headspace on the case mouth? How well does that work with a roll crimp?

KB2MBC wrote:Headspace on the case mouth? How well does that work with a roll crimp?

That's why I don't use a roll crimp.  I have a Lee taper crimp die that I now use for all my .38 loads, including revolvers.

It would work fine with a roll crimp. It better. Most factory ammo is roll crimped. It would just headspace on the rim if it couldn't touch case mouth. Or like a bunch of 1911's, headspace on extractor.

Another thought. If you trim "all"your brass to the same length you will be trimming it to the length of your shortest case. This would take headspacing on the case mouth out of the equation and all cases would have to headspace on their rim. I wonder why Clark built them that way?

Greetings,

Until I see a chamber casting of the Clark barrel, I shall move this "head-spaces on the mouth" to the BaloneyNet Folder.

Cheers,

Dave

Greetings,

Back again.

Regarding the barrel to bushing fit, all the original Model 52 bushings from the factory were under size. You needed to hone or lap the bushing to fit.

The end of the barrel has a spherical surface such that the barrel can move in all axes without binding.

If you attempt to modify the spherical portion, you lose all the benefits of this feature.

Not a new idea. The old Colt KIT barrels in 38 Special had a spherical cut on the end of the barrel.

Also, the Briley 1911 bushing uses the same technology. Except the bushing insert slides on the cylindrical portion of the mating barrel.

Next time you clean your Model 52, take a close look at the Slide Stop pin. Odds are that there is a ground cut in the center of the pin. This was done with a jig to mate the barrel seat to the pin.

Cheers,

Dave

fc60 wrote:Greetings,

Back again.


Next time you clean your Model 52, take a close look at the Slide Stop pin. Odds are that there is a ground cut in the center of the pin. This was done with a jig to mate the barrel seat to the pin.

Cheers,

Dave

100% right Dave,  this is why you want new or extra slide stop pins  if you are fitting a new barrel or if the original loosens up over over time and lots of rounds.

So couldn't you keep the pin round, and cut the barrel lugs to fit, like in a 1911?

Well you have to fit the lug on the top of the barrel to the slide like a 1911.  The flat on the underside that rides up on the pin could be fit like you said.